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There have been extraordinary scenes as around 5,000 men, women and children either swam or floated on inflatable lilos from Morocco to the Spanish north African enclave of Ceuta on Monday. Reports say the record number included around 1,500 children.

Ceuta and a similar enclave Melilla have been a magnet for years for those trying to reach Europe. But never before has such a number of people managed to enter the territory at one time.

Ali Zoubeidi is an academic in Rabat, Morocco, who is a senior consultant on the smuggling of migrants, human trafficking and organized crime.

He says Moroccan border guards seem to have turned a blind eye to the people crossing the border - apparently in response to a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. He thinks a new agreement will probably have to be reached - similar to the one the EU has with Turkey.

(Photo: Two migrants make their way through the sea to Cueta. Credit: AFP)